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Champions sign up to 'Embrace' wind campaign as poll confirms strong public support

74% in favour of wind power

A new campaign launching today shows that the majority of the population - 74% - agree that wind farms are necessary to help meet current and future energy needs in the UK - despite a vocal campaign against their expansion.

Embrace the Revolution, from the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), will unite those in favour of wind energy and challenge myths that wind farms are unpopular, noisy and a blot on the landscape.

The campaign already has the backing of a cross-spectrum of high profile supporters from the worlds of design, architecture, music and the media. Guy Berryman from Coldplay, Wayne Hemingway, Lord Foster, The Bishop of Liverpool, Kevin McCloud, Marks Barfield, the designers of the London Eye and Chris Tarrant are among the list of wind champions.

Chris Tarrant:

"Wind turbines are modern day Guardian Angels, a stunning addition to our rural landscape and a must if we are to move toward a future powered by green energy."

 

David Marks and Julia Barfield, Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye:

"Wind turbine technology available now provides the best environmentally sustainable and economically viable source of renewable energy. That is why we are actively exploring ways to incorporate wind turbines within landmark buildings that we are designing today."

The Rt Revd James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool:

"I support the development of wind energy as a vital contribution to the range of renewable sources of energy that are urgently needed to secure the well being of the earth."

New research1 demonstrates strong public endorsement for wind. The findings highlight differences in opinion between those who have and haven't seen a wind farm - with those who have being more supportive.

Support

  • 74% agree that wind farms are necessary so that we can produce renewable energy to help us meet current and future energy needs in the UK - only 12% disagree

Appearance

  • 62% agree wind farms are necessary to produce renewable energy - what they look like is unimportant
  • People are significantly more likely to disagree that wind farms are a blot on the landscape if they have seen them (59%), compared with those who haven't (43%)

Local champions

  • 70% would support the development of a wind farm in their area2

Cllr. Margaret Munn, Ardrossan, Scotland:

"The Ardrossan wind farm has been overwhelmingly accepted by local people - instead of spoiling the landscape we believe it has been enhanced.

"The turbines are impressive looking, bring a calming effect to the town and contrary to the belief that they would be noisy, we have found them to be silent workhorses."

Marcus Rand, Chief Executive, BWEA says:

"Time is running out on climate change and wind power is essential to averting its potential impacts. Britain has the best wind resource in Europe. It's everlasting, on our doorstep, and ready to use now.

"By embracing wind we will increase our nation's energy security and create thousands of new jobs for Britain. But we need to act now. The Embrace campaign will challenge the myths about wind energy head on and will give a voice to the vast majority of us that want to see wind turbines as a common feature in Britain."

The campaign is giving people the opportunity to express their support for wind by signing a petition at www.embracewind.com. The names of every supporter will go on four new wind turbines to be erected in 2005.

Wind farms are striking additions to our environment

The campaign has also secured the backing of Magnum photographers Chris Steele-Perkins, David Hurn, Ian Berry and Stuart Franklin whose exhibition of photographs of wind turbines runs for the month of October at the London Eye. The new images challenge the myth that wind turbines are ugly, instead showing them to be striking additions to our environment.

References

1. NOP World survey of 1,000 adults on behalf of BWEA undertaken 27-29th August 2004

2. ICM Research of 1,000 adults on behalf of Greenpeace undertaken 25-26th August 2004

For more details on either of these surveys, contact Alison Hill, Head of Communications, BWEA.